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IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo test scores required for the Ivy League and Oxbridge

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Unsure which English language test is best?ÌýUse this guide to see which testsÌýare eligible forÌýIvy League and Oxbridge applications and theÌýaverage required scores

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    Joy Hunter's avatar

    Joy Hunter

    Student content curator
    February 2 2021
    University of Oxford

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    Every university in English-speaking countries will have some form ofÌýEnglish language requirement to enrol. This is to ensure that students are as prepared as they can be for success in an academic environment. While the , their English language requirements are quite similar to other universities in the US and UK. However, their overall admissions processes can be more rigorous.Ìý

    Successful applicants to these universities come from all over the world, and many are not native English speakers. You shouldn’t be put off from applying just because English is not your first language. Ìý

    Duolingo
    Find out more about the Duolingo English Language test today

    However, if you are hoping to apply to the Ivy League or Oxbridge, it is essential that your language skills are good enough for you to undertake an intensive and challenging academic course that’s taught and examined in English.

    Admissions processes for Oxbridge and the Ivy League are more comprehensive and competitive than most universities, often involving extra forms, statements, interviews and specific language requirements. Throughout the admissions processes for these top schools, admissions teams will be assessing your EnglishÌýskills as well as your academic ability.Ìý

    If you are a non-native speaker, you will probablyÌýbe asked to formally prove your English proficiency by taking a test. Depending on the university and what you want to study, different minimum scores will be required for such tests. Ìý

    Below is a rundown of the specific language requirements for international students applying to Oxbridge and the Ivy League.

    <ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ>The Ivy LeagueÌý

    The Ivy League is a collective of the most prestigious colleges in the US: Harvard University, Brown University, Princeton University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, the University of Columbia, Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania. Together, these eight schools received more than 300,000 applicants for the Class of 2020, and the average acceptance rate was 7 per cent.Ìý

    Like most US universities, the majority of Ivy League institutions require foreign applicants to take an English language test, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For US universities, you should aim to complete these exams a year before you want to start university, usually in the month of August.

    Because of Covid-19, many of the Ivy League schools are now accepting the Duolingo English test and the IELTS Indicator, both of which can be taken from home. Ìý

    Ivy League English language tests (undergraduate)Ìý

    Ìý

    BrownÌýUniversity

    CornellÌýUniversity
    (may ask for a test)

    ColumbiaÌýUniversity

    DartmouthÌýCollege

    HarvardÌýUniversity

    UniversityÌýofÌýPennsylvania

    PrincetonÌýUniversity

    YaleÌýUniversity (English tests not required but advised)

    IELTS Academic

    8

    7.5

    7

    7

    Not required

    7

    Accepted – no minimum given

    7

    IELTS indicator

    (2021cycle)

    Not Accepted

    Accepted

    Accepted

    Accepted

    Not required

    Not Accepted

    Information not given

    Not accepted

    TOEFL (in person)

    600

    No Score Stated

    600

    600

    Not required

    600

    Accepted – no minimum given

    Not accepted

    TOEFL iBT & TOEFL Special ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Edition

    (2021 cycle)

    100

    100

    100

    100

    Not required

    100

    Information not given

    100 (25 in each category)

    Duolingo English Test (2021 cycle

    Over 120 preferred

    120

    120

    120

    Not required

    120

    Information not given

    120

    PTE Academic

    Not accepted

    70

    Not accepted

    Not accepted

    Not required

    Not accepted

    Accepted – no minimum given

    70

    CAE/CPE

    Not accepted

    191

    Not accepted

    Accepted – no minimum given

    Not required

    Not accepted

    Information not given

    Not accepted


    ÌýResources







    <ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ>Oxbridge

    The admissions process for all courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge will include an interview, either in person or online. This will consist of a rigorous conversation with experts in your chosen field of study, so it is essential that you are comfortable communicating to an adequate level of academic English. Ìý

    While it is not a requirement for you to have completed an English test before you apply to Oxford or Cambridge, if yourÌýapplication is successful you will probablyÌýneedÌýto complete a proficiency test to a set minimum score as one of the conditions of your offer.

    Oxford and Cambridge will accept various types of tests, but Oxford specifically recommends the Academic IELTS. The General IELTS is not accepted at either institution. Ìý

    For Oxford, EnglishÌýtests must be completed byÌý31ÌýJuly in the year you receive your offer, even if you are applying for deferred entry.Ìý

    Exemptions for non-native speakers taking a test for Oxford extend to applicants who have studied either the International Baccalaureate, if it is taught in English, or the Singapore Integrated Programme. You will also be exempt if you have been educated full-time in the medium of English throughout the two most recent years of your studies.

    The University of Cambridge does not specify who is exempt from the tests,Ìýbut has similar requirements to Oxford, and the institution recommends emailing admissions tutors for specific explanations. Cambridge also offers language courses throughÌýits language centre and may require you to take a short course there when you arrive, in place of a test.

    If you have already completed your EnglishÌýtest before applying to Oxford or Cambridge, you can simply include this in yourÌýapplication. Ìý

    If you require a student visa to study in the UK, Oxford and Cambridge will affirm your English language ability on your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) once you have sufficiently proved it to them. Therefore, when submitting your student visa application, you will not be required to provide additional evidence of your English language ability, and the English language test you took for university does not need to be listed on the UK ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Office Secure English Language Test (SELT).Ìý

    <ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ>Oxbridge minimum scores for English language tests (undergraduate)Ìý

    Test Name

    Minimum scores for computer science, mathematics, and statistics at Oxford

    Minimum Scores for all other Oxford courses

    Minimum Score for Cambridge Courses

    Academic IELTS

    7.0
    Minimum 6.5 per component

    7.5
    Minimum 7 per component

    7.5Ìý
    Minimum 7 per component

    IELTS Indicator

    Not accepted

    Not accepted

    Accepted

    TOEFL (in person)

    No longer accepted

    No longer accepted

    AcceptedÌý

    TOEFL (internet based)

    100Ìý
    Minimum component scores:
    Listening: 22
    Reading: 24
    Speaking: 25
    Writing: 24

    110
    Minimum component scores:
    Listening: 22
    Reading: 24
    Speaking: 25
    Writing: 24Ìý

    110Ìý
    Usual minimum of 25 or above per elementÌý

    Duolingo test

    Not accepted

    Not accepted Not accepted

    PTE Academic

    Not accepted

    Not accepted Not accepted

    Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE)

    185Ìý
    Minimum 176 per component

    191
    Minimum 185 per component

    193
    Minimum of 185 per component

    Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

    185
    Minimum 176 per component

    191
    Minimum 185 per component

    200
    Minimum of 185 per component

    English Language GCSE

    Grade B or Grade 6Ìý

    (IGCSE in either First Language English or English as a Second Language not accepted)

    Grade B or Grade 6Ìý

    (IGCSE in either First Language English or English as a Second Language not accepted)

    High grade may be acceptable

    English Language O-Level

    Grade B

    Grade B

    High grade may be acceptable

    International Baccalaureate Standard Level (SL)

    Ìý

    score of 5 in English (as Language A or B)

    Ìý

    score of 5 in English (as Language A or B)

    High grade may be acceptable

    European Baccalaureate

    Ìý

    score of 70 per cent in English

    Ìý

    score of 70 per cent in English

    High grade may be acceptable

    Ìý

    Duolingo
    Find out more about the Duolingo English Language test today

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